Joel's Super Bowl Preview

Hi, folks!
As promised, I (Joel) am here to help you break down Super Bowl XLIII, which happens tomorrow at 7:15p.m., just so you know. Don't worry if you can't understand this; my mom couldn't either. Lets get started, beginning with the local bad-boys, defenders extraordinaire!

PITTSBURGH
When they have the ball: look for quarterback Ben Rothlesberger to employ a variety of screens and option routes to establish a rhythm, which he could not do in Super Bowl XL only three years ago. Also, Ben is notorious for holding on to the ball too long, so the timing routes and designed passes will make things flow much easier for the Steelers as well. Arizona must also remember that running back Willie Parker set a Super Bowl record with a 75-yard touchdown run as a rookie in Super Bowl XL.
When they are on defense: Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald set a playoff record 419 receiving yards, besting the greatest wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice. Covering him is paramount to the Steeler's success. A healthy return of Anquan Boldin only adds to the difficulty of this nearly impossible task. But the Steelers can give Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner a much harder time using Fitzgerald and Boldin by applying once again their incredible pass rush. The Steel City represents an exotic, aggressive blitzing package, utilizing smallish, athletic linebackers such as James Harrison and Larry Foote.

ARIZONA
When they have the ball: The Steelers should know as well as anyone just how good Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are, because they've been impossible to miss. But something less popular in the Super Bowl conversations is the resurgence of running back Edgerin James. He had several key runs in the NFC championship game that opened up huge plays, such as the big pass to Fitzgerald early in the game. Becoming one-dimensional in a big game such as this is almost certainly fatal.
When they are on defense: The Cardinals were known for being sluggish, and kind of out-of-shape on defense for most of the regular season, and showed little enthusiasm late in the game. The playoff teams they knocked off a few weeks earlier were a big test, and they rose up to the occasion. The Steelers are not a bad running team, but not half as good as the Atlanta Falcons, or Carolina Panthers, both of which Arizona beat in the playoffs. But pass coverage is an equally big task, going up against a healthy Hines Ward and a playoffs mega-star, Santonio Holmes. The Cardinals are not entirely defenseless, however, with talented players like Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and Adrian Wilson in the defensive backfield.

THE OUTCOME
I think that this game will be a lot more interesting than people give it credit for. Both teams have outstanding talent, and I like both team's offensive schemes. But, someone has to win, and someone has to loose. We won't know for sure who that will be until tomorrow night, but we all love to guess. My prediction:
STEELERS 21,CARDINALS 24!!!
Well, I hope you enjoyed my preview, and I hope you enjoy the game as well. I know I will.

I've entered the world of Facebook!

OK, I finally did it - I got on Facebook! Oh my goodness, it has been like stepping back into time this week as I've seen pictures of people I haven't seen in over 20 years!! And it has been amazing hearing from so many classmates and old friends. I am so thankful for friends!!! And one thing that has really,really made me happy was seeing evidence of God's grace in the lives of many of my classmates. We went to a very strange legalistic school and despite coming out of that environment, so many are still walking with the Lord today. Three old friends are now Christian school administrators! And many more are devoted followers of Christ.

By the way, our son Joel wants his own blog now, but I'm probably going to let him post on here from time to time. He's got quite a gift with writing (NOT like me!) So sometime soon you may see a post or two from him - and I can almost guarantee it will be about football.

Speaking of football, GO CARDINALS!!!!!! Yes, I'm still a die-hard Redskins fan, but I would like to see the Cardinals win the big game. I love under-dogs. Even though the Steelers are a more local team. But my dad lives in Arizona, so that counts too! : )

Well its time to get off here - we are in the middle of potty-training...... and YAY! Today for the VERY FIRST TIME, Jaden told me on his own that he had to go! And he did! That was a very, very happy thing! Now if only we could bribe him into sitting still long enough to get a haircut......